Afra cichlid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Afra cichlid |
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| Male "Cobue" variation (above) and female (below) | |
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The Afra cichlid (scientific name: Cynotilapia afra) is a small, colorful fish. It belongs to the cichlid family and lives in Lake Malawi in East Africa. You can usually find these fish in rocky areas of the lake. It is also known as the dogtooth cichlid.
The name Cynotilapia roughly means "dogtooth cichlid." This name comes from the fish's unique sharp, cone-shaped teeth. These teeth are special because they are found only in this type of cichlid within Lake Malawi. Afra cichlids prefer water with a pH level between 7.5 and 8.5. They also like water temperatures from 23 to 27 degrees Celsius (73 to 81 degrees Fahrenheit).
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About the Afra Cichlid
Afra cichlids have long bodies with blue and black stripes. However, their colors can look very different depending on where they come from in Lake Malawi. For example, male fish from a place called Cobue (sometimes spelled Kobwe or Cobwe) have a specific look. Fish from Jalo Reef might have a bright yellow top fin but no yellow on their bodies. Other groups of Afra cichlids might not have any yellow at all.
Size and Habits
Male Afra cichlids can grow up to 10 centimeters (about 4 inches) long. Females are usually a bit smaller. Like many other cichlids from Lake Malawi, Afra cichlids are mouthbrooders. This means the mother holds her eggs and young fish safely in her mouth until they are ready to swim on their own.
Male Afra cichlids like to claim and protect areas near caves in piles of rocks. They eat algae and tiny creatures that live on these rocks. Female Afra cichlids often gather in the middle of the water. They feed on tiny floating organisms called plankton.
Color Variations
Many different color types of Afra cichlids are popular. These types are often named after the places they are found. Some of these popular color variations include:
- Chewere
- Chinuni
- Chitande
- Chuanga
- Likoma
- Lumbila
- Lundu
- Lupingu
- Mbenji
- Metangula
- Minos Reef
- Msobo
- Ndumbi
- Njambe
- Nkhata Bay
- Nkolongwe
Caring for Afra Cichlids in Aquariums
Afra cichlids, like many other mbuna (a group of cichlids from Lake Malawi), can be quite aggressive and territorial. If you want to keep them in an aquarium, it's often best to have a tank with only Afra cichlids. If you mix them with other fish, try to avoid species that look very similar to them.
A common way to keep Afra cichlids is to have one male with several females. This is because male Afra cichlids often mate with many females. Your fish tank should have some open swimming areas. But it's also very important to include lots of hiding spots and shelters, like rocks or caves. This helps the fish feel safe and reduces stress.
See also
- List of freshwater aquarium fish species
